/ ABCs of Earth: P is for Plant

September 18, 2015

There's something so special about picking fresh organic vegetables out of your own garden. Planting seeds and fresh flowers with your kids will help foster their relationship with the Earth starting, literally, from the ground up. This is an invaluable relationship that will get stronger as they mature and start making their own lifestyle choices. Supporting their understanding of where fresh food originates will also them make positive food choices.

Leave a comment:

Other articles:

February 13, 2018

It’s always important to instill the importance of being kind when speaking with your children, but focus more heavily on this message during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Take this week to share with your kids some ideas of random acts of kindness that they can do for the little ones around them.

1. Wave At Kids On The School Bus

Happiness is contagious, so stress to your kids that they should try every day to share their joy with the children around them. You never know who is having a bad day and could use cheering up. Something as simple as waving to others on the school bus or smiling when they walk passed others in the hallway can easily brighten another child’s day.

2. Write A Happy Note To A Classmate

Whether its a classmate who’s having a bad day or just a random child in class, drawing or writing a happy note to someone can have a very positive impact. Explain to your children how simple acts like this remind others that people are thinking about them and care.

3. Help Siblings With Their Chores

Random acts of kindness don’t always have to be directed at friends or classmates. Explain to your children that, if they have siblings, these nice deeds can be done for them as well. Your child could offer to help their siblings with their chores or make their beds for them one morning. The more kindness your children show to each other, the more they will show it to others.

4. Share A Toy With a Friend

It’s no surprise that kids love their toys.That’s why it’s such a big deal for them to share their beloved toys with others. Suggest that next time they have playtime at school or a playdate with a friend that they offer up one of their favorite toys for another child to play with. It’s not only nice to do, it’s also a lesson in selflessness.

5. Invite A Classmate To Play With Them

As parents, you have all seen or heard about kids getting left out at lunch or the playground. Unfortunately, not all children get treated fairly, and part of your goal during Random Acts of Kindness Week should be to remind your children to include everyone. They should always do it, but tell them to pay special attention this week to children who might need a friend at lunch or on the playground.

What random act of kindness are you sharing with your child this week? Let us know in the comments!

February 9, 2018

This Valentine’s Day, take some time out of your busy day being a parent to express your love for your partner….by asking for help with the kids! Download and print one of these fun Valentines to give to the one who will understand just how romantic a little help can be.

February 6, 2018

Valentine’s Day is approaching, so you will need to start considering what treats to bring to school parties or have prepared at home.

Just because it’s a treat doesn’t mean it has to be bad for kids. We’ve rounded up some of the best non-toxic Valentine’s Day treat options to make for your kiddos this year.

1.) Fudgy No-Bake Brownie Bites

Dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free, these Fudgy No-Bake Brownies are a great way for your children to get a non-toxic chocolate fix on Valentine’s Day. These are quick to make for those parents who are on-the-go, and they use all-natural ingredients. To make them extra festive, use a cookie cutter to form them into the shape of hearts.

2.) Frozen Strawberries & Yogurt

3.) Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Heart-shaped muffin pans are your best friend for Valentine’s Day parties. Use them to shape these strawberry banana oatmeal muffins, a treat your children will surely love (and that happens to be good for them). These muffins are naturally sweetened with the strawberries and bananas, so they aren’t loaded with excessive amounts of sugar.

4.) Vegan Strawberry Love Bugs

Talk about an adorable treat for Valentine’s Day! Not to mention, these Vegan Strawberry Love Bugs are shockingly simple to make. Choose a vegan dark chocolate and white chocolate to make these ladybugs non-toxic and vegan-friendly.

5.) Honey Bee No Bake Cookies

Helping your children write out Valentine’s, getting party decorations, running your usual errands AND making treats from scratch can be quite a lot to balance in your average day. A no bake recipe, like these honey bee no bake cookies, are a great option for busy parents. Plus, this recipe proves that you can make something that looks intricate and theme-appropriate that is still non-toxic and easy to prepare. These cookies do use peanut butter, so keep that in mind for nut allergies.

What non-toxic treats are you making for your little ones this Valentine’s Day? Share with us in the comments!

February 1, 2018

Love is in the air. While your children may feel and see it, they may not understand it.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, use this opportunity to pick some books that will illustrate the concept of love to your children and what it can mean in various situations.

To help with your search, we picked a few of our favorite children’s books about love.

The Big Book of Love

“The Big Book of Love” by Trace Moroney is a great book for those parents who want to show their children all of the different forms of love. The book shows how children can love family, friends and themselves. It also shows children that they don’t only need to show love through gifts and affection, but also through things like acts of service.

Guess How Much I Love You

One of the most popular children’s books about love, “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney is a simple yet beloved story of a father and son pair of Nutbrown Hares comparing their love for each other through different quantities. Parents all over the world have used this book to demonstrate how deeply you can love your family members.

Everyone Says I Love You

If you are looking to expand your children’s cultural understanding, “Everyone Says I Love You” by Beegee Tolpa is a fun book that teaches kids how to say “I love you” in languages from around the world. Along with that, it features pop-ups of famous landmarks, making it interactive.

I Love You Because You’re You

“I Love You Because You’re You” by Liza Baker explains love in a visually unexpected way through a mother fox’s greeting cards to her little one. Specifically, she tells her child that she loves them no matter what, the truest form of unconditional love.

Henry in Love

Innocent and unsure, children show love in the purest of ways, which is why “Henry in Love” by Peter McCarty is such a heartwarming love story for children. Henry the cat expresses his love for his classmate, Chloe the bunny, in the best way any little boy can: by sharing his snack. This tale shows how even shy little ones can show their love in big and powerful ways...with muffins.

What books about love do you like to read to your children? Share in the comments!

January 24, 2018

While you are worrying about your children’s health this winter, don’t neglect your own wellness! You also need to take extra steps to stay healthy because, just like your kids, you are bringing home germs this season.

Parents, try some of these winter wellness tips to keep yourself happy and healthy during the cold winter.

1.) Find The Light

Caring for children and keeping them healthy is already stressful enough, so add a cold, dark winter on top of that, and you may find your mood getting worse this season. Don’t let all of this get you down because the happier you are, the happier your children will be. Keep your blinds open, exercise, go outside when it’s sunny and increase the amount of light in your house to keep your emotional health in check. The more light around you, the happier you will be.

2.) Load Up On Water

The temperature has dropped, so you are relying on coffee, hot chocolate and tea to stay warm. However, don’t skimp on water this season. You may not want a cold beverage, but it’s better to drink water than become dehydrated. Try drinking hot water with lemon or keep a bottle at room temperature to skip the chill. It’s important to drink just as much water as you do in the warmer months, if not more, because the hydration is also helpful in avoiding dry skin.

3.) Wash Your Hands

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember hand washing if you want to keep up with winter wellness. Between taking your kids to school, the doctor and going to the grocery store, you are constantly encountering germs, ESPECIALLY when you have kids. Be extremely vigilant with hand washing, whenever you are in public, when you get home, any time that it seems necessary.

4.) Have Outdoor And Indoor Clothes

Walking into your home with children may be pure chaos, but be sure to take just a minute to change out of your outside clothes when you come in. Not only do your outside clothes have germs on them from wherever you went, but it’s also never good to stay in cold, wet clothes. Just a second a day to change into a warm outfit can make all the difference.

5.) Keep It Colorful in the Kitchen

You should always stock your kitchen with fresh fruits and vegetables, but it’s very important to do so in the winter when you really just want to eat comfort foods. Produce will provide you and your children with antioxidants that will protect your bodies during the cold months. Don’t think that your diet has to be boring if it’s healthy, there are plenty of delicious recipes that use fresh produce!

Parents, how are you staying healthy this winter? Share with us in the comments!

January 18, 2018

Once the seasons change from fall to winter, you probably have some new concerns for your children’s health. At the same time, you likely also drop some of the health worries you had in the previous seasons. But what should you REALLY be doing to keep your kids happy and healthy in the cold winter months? We break down some of the top winter wellness tips for your kids.

1.) Fight Dry Skin

Many toddlers love playing in the snow. Sledding and making snow angels are completely new experiences for the kids, but when they come inside, it may not be as fun anymore. The cold, dry air may lead your children to have dry, itchy skin. Right when they come inside use a non-toxic lotion like California Baby’s Everyday Lotion on exposed skin like cheeks and ears to avoid discomfort for your children. Pay special attention to kiddos who have eczema because wintertime can exacerbate the red, itchy skin.

2.) Warm Winter Clothing

You may be lax about how you personally bundle up during the winter, but don’t have that habit when you are dressing your kids. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your children should wear one more layer than you as an adult do in the cold. Also, boots, gloves and hats are extremely important because they keep your children warm and comfortable.

According to the Mayo Clinic, if your children are still in a car seat, don’t forget that it is dangerous to have thick coats under the car seat harness. It can make the harness straps loose, which will not protect a child in a wreck. So take off your child’s coat when they get in the car and put it back on before having them out in the cold.

3.) Allergies

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can forget about allergies! While there are many seasonal allergies that only pop up during the warmer months, some children’s allergies are year-round, especially allergies to dust and pets. Keep that in mind and don’t forget to manage your children’s allergies, even though it is winter. Be sure to regularly dust and try getting a humidifier for the home to keep the air pure for kids.

4.) Healthy Eating

You always want to feed your children nourishing foods, but be extra vigilant with their diets during the winter. When cooped up inside warm soups and healthy snacks are great to have on-hand to keep your kids full and happy. Also, be sure to stock up on tea and other warm beverages in case your children happen to get sick.

5.) Sunscreen

If your kids are going to be playing outside this season, don’t think you can skip one of the most important protective steps you take during the summer: applying sunscreen. The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn during the winter, and they can reflect off of the snow, which is another concern.